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'Vs Kids" 



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\}s K\ds" 



C. C. BUMGARNER 



/"oXIE 



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FEB 18 72 

C1A657985 



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Vs Kids'' 



Copyright 1922 



C. C. BUMGARNER 



Digitized by tine Internet Archive 
in 2011 witii funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/uskidsOObumg 



66 



Vs Kids'' 



Published For the Author 

By 

CHRONICLE PRINTING CO. 
Logansport, Ind. 



^Vs Kids'' 



DEDICATION 

It is to the friends (?f my ChildlioocI, 
with their little fears and fancies. 
The pals of later years with their 
advice and counsel, the older folks 
that were glad to satisfy my curiosity, 
and entertain me w^ith their memoriea 
of a Icng gene pioneer existance, 
w^hose log school houses, corduroy 
roads, wild game, and Indians, deep 
swamps and dense forests, dances and 
husking bees, appealed to my inner 
soul, and to the numerous littAe psis 
I love to study that this little book is 
dedicated. 



"Vs Kids'' 



us KIDS 



We're fuU. of life and innocenc; 
Our playground everywhere; 
We know but few unpleasantrics, 
Our lives unscarrcd by care. 

Today, is all the day w^e know, 
Just now is when v^e live; 
The past to us is just a blank, 
We take just w^hat you give. 

The future is our fairyland, 
To'rd w^hich w^e fondly raze; 

Its doers to us are opened 
At the slightest hint of praise. 

Our little questions day by day 
Are steps that must be trod; 
Curious little souls are w^e, 
With parents- — As our God. 

We're what v/e are untainted. 
And the future only bids 
To develop us, as w^hat we are. 
In it's Fairyland Us Kids. 



''Vs Kids'' 



GRAN' PA 

John Weirich: he's a gran'pa 

Of the good old long ago, 

The years have bleached his raven 
locks, 

Until they're w^hite as snow 

He knew this good old Hoosier State, 

From infancy to now^. 

And his keen old mind remembers, 

Each when and why and how. 

John Weirich: tho he's ninety-two 
Recalls the past, as w^ell 
As tho it w^as, but yesterday. 
And pleasantly can tell, 
Tis John, I gladly introduce 
A youth, tho ripe v/ith age 
As the Gran'pa of the stories. 
That you'll find from page to page. 



iO 



ii 



Vs Kids'' 



GRANTA STORIES 

My gran'pa he*s i'st awful old 
/in* sets 'round in his chair; 
He nioves it in the summer 
Where the shade is, here an' there. 

But in the winter, when it's cold 
lie wears a big old blouse. 
An' spends his time jes' ever' day 
A settin' 'round the house. 

An' in the evenin' gran'pa 
Lets me come sit on his chair 
An' he tells me lots o' stories, 
That he learned 'ist ever' where. 

He tells 'bout when he's 'ist a boy. 
So avi^ful lo7ig ago; 
A^nd Kow boys are so different 
Fram the boys he used to know. 

They cridn't get to play baseball, 
Ner r?de around in cars; 
They didn't have 'lectrij lights 
An' gates w^uz only bars. 

i'h'-y hardly went to school at all, 
Aj:' hunted for their meat; 
An' they had bears, to shr;ot at. 
An' squirr'ls an' deer to eat. 

An gran'pa says 'at piger.ns 
"^H u? so thick 'at when they d lis% 
You couldn't see the sun at all 
A shinin' in the sky. 



'Vs Kids'' 



a 



They lived out in a great big woods> 
A long, long ways from town, 
In a house 'at's made from little logs 
With no fioor, but the groun'. 

They didn't have no cook stove, 
But he 'scribed so awful plain, 
Ho^Y his ma cooked in a kittle 
In the fire place, on a crane. 

An' he said they raked the ashes 

An' the live coals out below. 

Where they baked corn pone, and 

taters. 
When he's young, so long ago. 

They hitched cow^s for horses. 

An' made lumber with a ax; 

They raised a kinda weed fer clo's— 

Gran'pa calls it flax. 

But ma's a-callin' me to come 

Gee, it keeps me guessin'; 

I'll tell you more 'bout gran'pa 

When I've took my music lesson. 



^2 ^'Vs Kids'' 



GRANTA^S RIFLE 

Gran'pa's got a rifle 
That he used so long ago, 
When he was jes' a youngster 
Like me, an' kids I know. 

An' nen he had some huntin' dogs, 
He said one w^as a cur; 
'At's jes' a measly onr y dog, 
But good fer fer ketchin' fur. 

They's lots o' 'possums, minks, an 

coons 
To ketch, when he's a boy; 
An' when his pa gived him that gun 
Gran'pa's wild with joy. 

They's turkeys too, 'ist runnin' v/ild 
That Granpa said he'd call, 
An he said thy wuz fatter'n fools 
From eatin' beechnuts, in the fall. 

An' lots-a fezants lived around 
The place, where gran'pa did; 
Don't you bet, 'at it wuz fun 
To live when he's a kid? 

An' gran'pa said theys injuns too. 
That sometimes he 'ud see; 
Especial, when they'd go to town 
Fer lead an' powder, salt an' tea. 



"Vs Kids'' 



i3 



He's talked with little injun boys 
'At's bout his size, he liked them most; 
When he wuz where they's tradin' 
'Round a place they called The Post. 

My! Granpa walked a awful ways 
When school wuz goin' on; 
But teachers whipped jes' awful, 
An'he's glad when schooltime's done. 

Gee! 1 mus' hurry an' git home 
I'll tell you more w^hen I've a chance 
But I mus' stay with gran'pa, 
While the folks go to a dance. 




COIN' TO MEETIN' 



Las' night Gran'pa telled me how 
They us-ta go to meetin', 
An how the menfolks talked outside, 
A-shakin ban's an' greetin. 

The preacher an' the folks he's w^ith 
Jes' always got there late; 
The "wimmen an' the kids w^ent in, 
While the men stayed cut to w^ait. 



i4 



"Vs Kids'' 



The preacher cum 'bout twict a year 
To preach to 'em an' offer pray'r; 
He road a horse, so Gran'pa said, 
To take 'im here an' there. 

They didn't have no music things 
To play on, when they'd sing; 
Les' sum-un had a fiddle 
That he cud play, an' bring. 

An' meetin's lasted half a day. 
An' sometimes half the night; 
Gran'pa said the preachers then. 
Could preach an' pray, a fright. 

Sometimes he said it took a day 
To get back home agin; 
An' nen fer most a month er more 
His Pa 'ud pray like sin. 

They wa'nt no roads to speak of 

When Gran'pa wuz a boy; 

Cept the kind they made o' brush an 

logs, 
An' called 'em cord-er-roy. 

The neardest naybcr Gran'pa had 
Lived 'jes four miles away; 
An' they had kids like he wuz, 
But 'twas too fur off to play. 



Say, I'll bet a kid like that 
'Ud grow to be a dub. 
But I mus' go, cause Pa an' 
Are goin' to a euchre club. 



Mc 



Vs Kids'' 



THE BEAR STORY 

'Lo Bill! Las' nite my gran-pa told 
Some more, when he's a kid; 
An' I'll tell you, like he told me 
'Bout what he said he did. 

He said he waked up one dark night, 

When he wuz 'bout fourteen 

The dogs w^uz fightin' awful, 
An' 'twas dark as he had seen. 

His pa wuz up an' called him 

To git his gun an' hurry; 

Fer the dogs w^uz fightin' somethin' 

Aw^ful big and furry. 

They lit a bunch o' taller, 
That w^uz tied w^ith sticks and tarred 
An' thrcw^ed it where the fight wuz. 
Right cut in the yard. 

An' w^hen the blaze got bright enough 
So's they seen ever'w^here. 
They found the dogs wuz fightin' 
A great big ole black bear. 

An' gran'pa said, Bub I wuz skeered, 
But couldn't run somehow^; 
Fer that bear looked ez big to me 
Ez our old muley cow. 

An' his pa said, "go keerful son. 
An' w^atch clost w^hen ye shoot; 
An' w^hen ye do, don't ^//ait aroun' 
Ef he don't fall, you scoot," 



i6 



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Vs Kids'' 



An gran'pa watched to git a shot, 
His finger on the trigger; 
An' all the time the doggone bear 
Kept gittin' bigger'n bigger. 

Then purty soon his chance it cum, 
When he*d got purty near, 
An' he shot true, like heroes do, 
Right square behind the ear. 

Then gran'pa runed into the house 

To tell he'd killed a bear 

But I mus' take my paintin' lesson; 
Gee! wisht I was there. 




BUYING NEW BOOTS 

Say! gran'pa told a 'nother one 
Las' night, w^hen him an' me 
Wuz settin' in his big arm chair, 
An' w^e both laughed. O gee! 

Ycu see, when gran'pa wuz a boy 
Shoes w^uz most unknown; 
An' beets an' moccasins wuz all 
That folks w^culd w^ear, er own. 



"Vs Kids 



99 



17 



An' when a boy wuz big enough 
To wear boots on his feet, 
A pair o' boots with nice red tops 
Made Hfe fer him complete. 

But new boots cost a aw^ful lot, 
An' money was so skeerce. 
The things boys done to git 'em 
Sometimes w^uz simply fierce. 

Well, gran'pa worked an' saved an 

saved, 
When he had time to spare. 
An' after many months he had 
Enough to buy a pair. 

He said he wuz so tickled 
Cause their tops w^uz shiny red. 
With copper strips across the toes. 
He w^ore em most to bed. 

His pa, he had some taller 

That he used most ever' night. 

To greasei his boots to keep 'em soft 

An' not git stiff an' tight. 

One night gran'pa greased his boots 
An' set 'em w^here the heat 
Would make the grease go into 'em. 
Then they's soft on his feet. 

An' nen he went to bed, to sleep. 
But couldn't sleep no mor'n sin; 
He's so anxious fer the daylight 
When he'd wear them boots agin. 



i8 



'Vs Kids'' 



But they had bin set up too close, 
An' in the night the heat 
Had burned an' scorched an' wrin- 
kled 'em 
'Till they wouldn't fit his feet. 

Then gran'pa cried; las' night he 
laughed, 

At how his spirits fell 

But Bill let's hurry on to school, 
I'm sure I heard the bell. 




GRANTA'S DREAM 

Gran'pa told me 'bcut a dream 
He had long years ago. 
About some funny animals 
'At you an' me don't know. 

His ma had told a story, 

Jes' before he went to bed, 

An' when he went to sleep that night 

He saw 'em all, he said. 



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Vs Kids 



99 



19 



There's a big-eyed Cor-yu-gal-us 
That lived up in the trees; 
An' the long-billed El-so-dik-tum 
That lived on bugs an' bees. 

The little Gol-sin-os-it-us, 

No bigger than a mouse, 

The great Vi^inged Com-w^e-loo-de 

That could fly off w^ith a house. 

There's the sneaklu' Zin-ke-tur-mun 
That w^ould steal bait outta traps; 
An' the Spuamp-snort's voice wuz 

'zactly 
Like the sound o' thunder claps. 

The Bim-ble-der-do's little eyes 
Dripped tears like fallin' rain; 
An' the Bizzle-Bug 'at bit 'em 
'Till they all v^^ould yell v^ith pain. 

The Alli-gan-tis jes' v/ould set 
An' laugh fer hours an' hours; 
An' the hungry Til-de-woo-dum 
That lived on smelly flowers. 

But the Gizzle-dink-de-w^alk-us 
Wuz the queerest one of all; 
He'd stand an' look right over trees, 
He's 'ist so slim an' tall. 

His legs Vk^uz jes' like broomsticks 
An' his toes as thin as vv^ire; 
He's alius cold, an' warmed hisself 
By standin' crost a fire. 



20 \ "Vs Kids'' 



Ther's lots of other funny things 
'At gran'pa claimed to know, 
.But I mus' go mind gran'pa 
While the' folks go to a show. 

GRANTA SAYS 

My Gran'pa says: at long ago, 
Womens dresses came down low. 
An' w^aists came almost to their ears, 
That w^omen all had modest fears. 
But nowadays the dress has changed, 
From low to high the hem has ranged, 
And life for w^omen seems complete, 
To have the hem and w^aist line meet. 



WHEN MAMA BAKES A CAKE 
Our home is just the limit. 
No chance to romp and play; 
We slip around like shadows, 
There's just no other way. 
Mama's strict, oh gracious. 
She smiles, but not so kind; 
We play outdoors entirely. 
With anything we find. 
Dick w^orks around the w^oodshed. 
An' pa stays at the barn; 
An' gran'pa goes up to the store. 
To hear some fellow^s yarn. 
The neighbors knew the symptoms, 
And net a call they make; 
For it ain't safe to move or speak. 
When mama bakes a cake. 



''Vs Kids'' 



2i 



MY KITTY 



One day iasc spring my mama 
Jnad sent me to the store, 
hor a box of tacks to tasten, 
i he carpet to the floor. 
And as I mcsied homeward, 
Just lookin' ' long the atreet; 
i he cutest, softest, kitten, 
Came rubbing round my feet. 
I picked it up and brot it home. 
An' begged that it might stay; 
FVlama don't like kittens, cause 
They're always in the way. 
But 1 just coaxed my bestest. 
Till mama says all right; 
I'll let it stay. But mind you, 
It goes outside at night. 
My kitten grew to be a cat, 
I fed it scraps and milk. 
Until its fur was softer, 
Than the finest kind of silk. 
I called, it Tom; for papa said: 
That's what cats should be called. 
And why folks spoke of Tom cats. 
When at night they squalled an 

squalled. 
Well: Tom and I were happy, 
As you might well suppose. 
I wheeled him in my doll cart, 
All dressed in Dolly clothes, 
I'd put a bonnet on his head. 



22 



"Vs Kids" 



It's just the proper size 
Why you could tell he's happy, 
By his purr an' dreamy eyes. 
One day Tom came up missing 
And 1 called him everywhere, 
I asked most all the neighbors. 
But they said he'd not been there. 
I almost felt like crying 
For I feared that Tom v/as dead. 
Some dog had maybe killed him. 
And chewed his pretty head; 
But when papa came that evenini 
And. had been at home aw^hile, 
He called me to the coal shed 
And I saw he wore a smile. 
He said: look in here kiddie. 
Now^ what you think cf that, 
My Tom: had four w^ee kittens 
Ain't he a funny cat? 




THE DOLL STORY 



1 want to tell a stoory, 

It won't take very long. 

About my little Dolly, 

I'm sure there's something wrong. 

She used to call me mama. 



''Vs Kids'' 



23 



As plain as she could speak, 

But her insides must be busted, 

For her voice is awfully weak. 

Doc Hatfield took her temp'ature. 

An' shook his head so wise. 

He felt her tiny little pulse, 

An' put stuff in her eyes. 

You see her hair is slippin*. 

The paint's gone from one cheek, 

One darling ear is missin' 

An'' her tummy's sprung a leak. 

One leg is loose and twisted, 

Tw^o toes are lost an' gone, 

One eye is always sleeping. 

Something must be quickly done. 

I feel so awfully sorry. 

She's in the shape she is, 

I spect she'll soon be dyin' 

With the light'nin' rheumatiz. 

Won't some one kindly tell me, 

In a way I'll feel assured. 

What medecine is safest 

So my Dolly can be cured. 

My mama says she'r* hopeless. 

And will always be quite lame. 

Papa says she's ruined. 

But I love her just the same. 




24 



6i 



Z ^ ^99 



Vs Kids 



LrL SQUIRREL 




Li'l squirrel he's jes' a worKin 

Busy like a bee. 

Jes a streak a flyin 

Up and down the tree. 

Hidin' nuts fer winter, 

When the snow is here; 

An' he has to stay inside 

'Till springy days draw near. 

Li'l squirrel, he's workin' 
Like he'd never stop. 
High up in the nut trees 
'Clear up to the top. 
Picks the bestest goodies, 
Nen away he run, 
Hidin' nuts all dsy long, 
Jes like he'd net ret done. 

Li'l squirrel he see me, 
An set dov/i on a limb, 
Shake his bushy tail an' bark. 
What for I bother him. 
He ain't no time for loafin*, 
The time, it's slippin' 'way, 
He got to git his w^ork done — 
Got no time now to play., 



''Vs Kids'' 



25 



Li'l squirrel he tell me 
Cold days comin' soon. 
Trees all bare and empty, 
Sun ain' up 'till noon. 
Wind'll be a blowin', 
Snow flakes wheel and whirl, 
Better put up plenty, 
Like this li'l squirrel. 



MY DAD 

A bunch of bright eyed youngsters 

Were listening one day, 

To a story, and as I passed by, 

I heard the teller say: 

There's someone dow^n to our house. 

Said the smiling, happy lad, 

That can tell the bestest stories, 

An' you'd Hike 'em, too My Dad. 

He makes me kites, an' sleds, an' 
things. 

An' w^hen he's home at night. 

When chores are done, he shows me 

how^ 
To do my sums all right. 
He kncw^s 'bout wars an' soljers. 
And Injuns an' Buff'loes; 
And he know^s when the sun goes 

down, 
Jes where it aWays goes. 



"Vs Kids 



99 



He's b'en on ships off somewheres, 
I forget jes' where he said, 
But it's where you pick up cokienuts, 
An' there's trees, whose fruit is bread. 
Where monkeys, an' parrots, an' 

cockatoos, 
Live out in the woods in trees; 
But folks have to sleep in hammocks, 
'Cause there's bugs and worms and 

fleas. 



He's hunted up in a great big woods 
Where the trees ain't like we got; 
The rug w^e've got in our sittin' room 
Come off uv a bear he shot. 
He's told about hearin' a panther 

scream. 
When it's huntin' something to eat; 
An' he's heard 'em call to their mates 

way off. 
That they'd fcu'd a trail of meat. 



My Dad can ta^k for hours an* hours 

'Bout things Ive never seen, 

'Cept when I go to a picture show, 

An' see 'em on the screen. 

He's been most ever'where, I guess. 

An' seen all there w^as to see; 

An' heard all there w^as to hear, I 

guess, 
So he could tell it to me. 



''Vs Kids'' 



27 



MY OLD DOG BLUE 

He's jes' a dog, my old Dog "Blue", 
The bestest friend, I ever knew; 
He follers me most ever' place, 
A smilin' with his homley face, 

A huntin' for some cat to chase 

My Old Doy Blue. 



He'll walk along with me 'ist grand, 
Jes' glad it seems, to touch my hand, 
His nose'll touch my finger tips. 
An' w^hen I'm makin little trips, 

To go uptow^n away he slips 

My Old Doy Blue. 



Outside the door he'll wait for me 
jese' like he's happy as can be; 
Nen when I start to w^alk aw^ay. 
He alius wants to run an' play. 
Like he's afraid I'd make 'irn stay- 
My Old Doy Blue. 



Ma says at w^hen I'm gone to school 
At dog jist acts like he's a fool; 
He'll stick his ears up, stand an' gawk 
At folks 'ats passin' on the walk, 
'1st w^atchin' fer me like a hawk- — 
My Old Doy Blue. 



28 



t6 



Vs Kids'' 



One time he got some poisioned mea^; 
When he wuz findin' things to eat; 
An he "ist looked so sick an* sad 
Gee, but Pa was awful mad, 
*N w^hen he's better I's so glad— 
My Old Doy Blue. 

He's jes' a dog, my old dog Blue, 
But he's fer me plumb through an' 

through, 
He's always glad to be with me. 
If only close enough to see. 

An' w^hen I'm happy so is he 

My Old Doy Blue. 




MY TEACHER 

I've got the nicest teacher 
1 think I ever had, 
I want to be so awful good, 
Jes' somehow never bad. 



''Vs Kids'' 



29 



She's got the softest fluffy hair, 
An' big deep hazel eyes; 
An' helps the scholars ever' one, 
That really, truly tries. 

She wears the cutest aprons, 
An' she's got the sweetest smile; 
The kids they all adore her, 
Ever' one an' all the w^hile. 

Her voice jes' sounds so coaxin'. 
An' she speaks so plain an' low, 
You jes' must understand her. 
That's w^hy w^e love her so. 

An' teacher's got a feller 
That drives up in his car 

'Bout tw^ice a w^eek to see her 

He must live aw^ful far. 

But always she's a-waitin' 
When us kids come to school, 
An' w^e all w^ant to please her, 
But never break a rule. 

MY MA 

My ma she's a member 

Of a literary club, 

'Cause she don't w^ant the neighbors 

To think that she's a dub. 

An' don't kncw^ how^ to write an' read, 

Ner w^hat' a-goin' on. 

Round the w^orld most ever'w^here. 

An' what the leadin' folks has done. 



30 



"Ds Kids" 



My ma can write up papers 
About old guys that ain't; 
An' bout a lot o' fellers 
That painted things with paint. 
An' she knows all bout odd things 
Fur off, an' how they looks; 
'Cause she's read 'bout 'em 
Here ot home, in magazines and 
books. 



An' nen soometimes, when bedtime 

comes, 
Theere's stories she tells me 
Of Goblins, Sandmans, fairies. 
They're cute as they c'n be. 
An' my ma knows. Oh, ist a lot! 
'Bout what my pa don't tell, 
When he comes in way late at night 
Explainin' he ain't feelin* well. 



But when ma starts to bakin' 
An' makin' things she makes, 
There ain't nobody's ma on earth 
Makes ccckies like she bakes. 
I don't jes' know^ w^hai: all it takes. 
To make the cookies 'at she bakes. 
But they're the best I ever saw — • 
Tell you what, I'm strong fer ma! 



'Vs Kids'' 



31 



MY NEW PANTS 
My ma maked a pants fer me, 
Frum a pair wored out by pa. 
You oughta see em, Gee-ma-nee 
Ther the worst I ever saw. 

She maked 'em button up the sides 
An fas'en to a band, 

Jes' wait till I'm hoppin' rides 
An tliey pull loose, my land. 

They're awful floppy ' round the knees 
The seat is low an' loose. 
An' thru the sides a chilin' breeze 
'11 giive me pimples like a goose. 

Ma says they're plenty good enough 
Fer me to rip an* rear, 
An 'ought to hold me cause ther tough 
A clim'in' ever'where. 

When girls com near I'm gonna hide 
Cause my pants look so raw. 
An' I don't like 'em, nen beside 
The kids '11 call me **pa." 

PUMPKIN PIE 

See them yeller fellers shinin* on the 

groun'? 
See their bulged out, wrinkled sides 
:3cattered all aroun' 
Time they's bein gathered 
An' stored back in the barn, 
Cause Old Jack Frost's a comin' 
An' they'll soon start huskin' corn. 



32 



"Vs Kids 



99 



An' tain't fur off till Hallere'en, 
An' nen on posts an' places 
Where little kids '11 git all scared 
You'll see their grinnin* faces. 
An' Pa, he'll sort o few to keep 
An' put 'em in the cellar 
An' pick one cut to save fer seed- 
Some nice big yaller feller. 



An' Ma, she'll cook 'em one by one, 

An' can 'em brown an' dry, 

Sc's she can have a-plenty 

To work up into pie. 

An' nen when comp'ny's comin' 

She'll bake up three or four 

Big pies, an' put 'em out to cool, 

On a bench by our back door. 



An' all the famb'ly likes 'em too, 
An' pa'll say to ma, 
'Most ever' time she bakes 'em: 
Them's the best, j ^^^^^ ^^^^ 
An' Ma, she'll say: *W'y Henry, 
You knovvr and so do I, 
It's a reg'ler famb'ly failin' 
To v^ant more pumpkin pie." 



''Vs Kids'' 



THE EARACHE 

Oh boy, las night I waked up 

In the middle ur the night, 

An' my ear was hurtin* awful 

I couldn't sleep a mite; 

1 rolled an' tumbled in the bed 

A hopin' day wuz near, 

An' finally jes' laid an cried 

It hurt so, in my ear. 



An' purty soon my Ma she heard 

Me cry, an come to see, 

An' asked whatever on the earth 

Could be a ailin' me. 

An' when I said it wuz my ear 

She talked jes awful nice, 

Put said *at I wuz payin' 

Fer slidin on the ice. 



An' nen she went an* got some grease 
An' het it good an hot. 
She said 'at grease when heated 
Wuz sure to hit the spot. 
She held my head down sideways 
V\ll solid on her knee, 
And poured 'at grease into my ear 
An' Oh my! Gee-man- ee! 



34 



'Vs Kids 



9* 



I hollerd jumped an* twisted 
I thot I'se bein' killed. 
An' grease wuz jist all over 
Where it wuz throwen an' spilled. 
But ma jes grinned an' set there 
An w^hen I'd cried a bit, 
I started in a grinnin' too 
Fer the old earache had quit. 

WHEN MAMA'S SICK 

My but home's a lonesome place 
For kids to have to stay, 
No smiles w^e see on Daddy's face 
And we don't get to play. 

The house is just so dreadful still 
And solemn as a tomb, 
We feel the silence like a chill 
In every hall and room. 

The house must be all quiet 
And we must play outside, 
We get so tired out doorS all day 
We've cried, and cried, and cried. 

We get so lonesome for the time 

To all be sitting round 

The table, glad and happy. 

Its the best place yet we've found, 

And baby Jeanne, don't understand 
Why we can't romp and play 
And wondrs why she has to be 
So quiet all the day. 



''Vs Kids'' 



35 



The doctor drives up to the house 
And meets nurse at the door, 
They slip to mama's bedroom 
And stay an* hour or more. 

The place just smells so awful 
From medicine he brings, 
And when he leaves he moves jes like 
He's steppin' on some springs. 

Today our Daddy called us in 
And hugged us close and tight, 
And said *at mamas better 
An* soon would be all right. 

Tell you w^hat we're tickled 
And hope she gets well quick. 
Cause home jes ain't no home at all 
Whenever mama*s sick. 

MY PA 

My pa he says — 
An' gee, he knows, 
Jes' -V'Thy the v/ind blows 
When it blows. 

An' why the sun shines 
When it shines, 
An jes' why miners 
Work in mines. 




S6 "Vs Kids 



He kijows why leaaves) 
Come out in spring, 
An' what the birds say 
When they sing. 

An'he c'n tell 
Before a rain, 

Bout when it's comiin' 

Jes' as plain. 

An' when the wild flowers 
Bloom around. 
He knows the places 
Where they're found. 

An' he c'n tell 
Where birds nest, too. 
By how they act 
An' what they do. 

An' when there's young ones 
In the nest, 

Fie knows what worms 
They like the best. 

He knows jes' how 
1 u find wild bees, 
An* follow where 
They live in trees. 

He know^s jes' wrhere 
The fishes stay, 
In dark deep w^ater. 
Hid away. 



*'Vs Kids'' 



37 



At riiglit time 
1 ciimb on his knee, 
An' he'll tell stories 
Jes' tc me. 

He tells me bout 
When he's a boy, 
He never had 
A single toy. 

He had the mostest 
Chores to do, 
Isi ever' day 
Before he's through. 

Hi:5 folks ist had 
Plain wood to burn, 
An' he w^alked miles 
To school , to learn. 

They's lots o' vsroods, 
An' swampsi an' bogs. 
An' sometimes folks 
Ud see wild hogs. 

The woods w^uz full 
Of squirrels an' coons. 
An' grapes and berries 
An' mushroons. 



An' nights w^hen its 
7 oo dark to shoot, 
"i he ow^ls 'ud come 
An' hoot an' hoot. 



58 



66 



Vs Kids 



9* 



An through the roof at night, 

Pa said. 

The stars 'ud shine 

Right on his bed. 

There's times I'm glad 
I wa'n^ a kid, 
An' had to do 
Like rny dad did. 

GOIN^ WALNUT HUNTIN' 

Gee, the time is here at last! 
Summer days are gone and past, 
Frost's abitiii' hard an' fast. 
Let's go walnut huntin'. 

Out there in the fields somewhere, 
'Long the fences here an' there. 
Where the country folks don't care. 
Let's go w^alnut huntin'. 

Say, 1 know those trees by sight. 
My hopes soarin' like a kite. 
Dream about 'em in the night. 
Let's go w^alnut huntin'. 

Get my hands all stained an' brown, 
Shelhn' nuts piled on the groun'. 
Keep em hid w^hen Ma's aroun' 
From goin' w^alnut huntin'. 

I'm so anxious I could cry, 
Dcindy days a-slippin' by. 
Boy, Oh Bey! I'll say they'd dry. 
Let's go walnut huntin'. 



'Vs Kids'' 



39 



Fix gaps Vm a reg'ler dunce, 
Says I dream o' walnut hunts. 
Gosh, you ain't a kid but once 
Goin' walnut huntin'. 

Can't you see 'em showin' brown 
On the shed roofs round the town, 
Where kids got em dryin' round. 
Let's go w^alnut huntin'. 

Shut your eyes now, can't you see, 
Vv^alnuts hangin' on the tree? 
U you can't you ain't like me. 
Let's go walnut huntin'. 

Got my sack all hid away 

1 ain't got no time fer play. 
Gem' after school today, 

Gain' w^alnut huntin'. 

* COMP NY'S COMIN' " 

Gee! there ain't no time to play, 
Runnin' errands all the day, 
Tciin't right to treat a kid that way 
Cause comp'ny's comin'. 

A feller's runnin' here an' there, 
Sumpin needed ever' where, 
Darn! it don't seem like it's fair, 
Cause comp'ny's comin'. 

Got to go git extra chairs. 

Fa he's dressed, an' puts on airs, 

Ma's the only one 'at cares. 

Cause comp'ny's comin'. 



40 "Vs Kids" 



Got tc do jist like I'm bid, 
Tilings before I never did, 
Gosn it's tough to be a kid» 
V^hen comp'ny's coming'. 

Ma sVie works ist like a streak, 
Done more today than all last week, 
Pa a stepping round all meek, 
Cause comp'ny's comin*. 

Got to w^ash my face an' feet, 
^ear a shirt w^hite as it sheet. 
Life has plumb lost all its sweet, 
Cause comp'ny's comin'. 



LITLE CHUNKINS 

Li'l Chunkins come to our house 

All daddy's proud, oh gee! 

He stays 'round home, 'bout all the 

time 
An holds 'im on 'is knee. 

He's got the littlest wrinkled face 
An' sleeps most day an' night. 
But when his eyes are open 
They're jist so clear an' bright. 

They keep 'im wrapped up awful warm 
In the softest kind o' clo'es. 
He ain't no hair to speak of, 
All' hardly any nose. 



''Vs Kids'' 



41 



Hii liltle cheeks are jes' as fat, 
An' his tiny dimp'led chin; 
Ever time he works 'is mouth, 
Je?' goes out, an' in. 

His mouth's jes' like a buttonhole. 
An' each li'l tiny ear 
Don't look like 'twas big enough 
For a li'l mouse to hear. 

An' when he cries it makes you laugh, 
Its ,es' so low an' sweet; 
But m> he never cries unless 
He w^ants some milk to eat. 

He's got the lit'lest teeny feet, 
but 1 heard daddy say 
They'd grow^ an' be ist like a man's. 
So s he could w^alk some day. 

An' Mama she 'ists smiles 'ist like, 
A angel would, I know: 
Ever' time she sees 'im 
Seems like I ain't no show. 



Ken w^hen my mama holds 'im, 

She hugs him, oh, so tight; 

Her face jes' looks so sweet an' good. 

Like everything's jest right. 

Mama calls 'im darling 
Daddy says 'at Bill soun's fine; 
But he's my li'l Chunkins 
He's my brother, so he's mine. 



42 



66 



Vs Kids'' 



WHEN MAMMA READS TO ME 

At a little kiddie party 
When they all had gathered in, 
And we truly making merry 
With their playful childish din. 

There came a time to listen, 
Came a quiet space to re»t. 
And each told to the others 
The things they liked the best. 




The boys chose sleds and airguns 

Skates, and tops and snow, 
Summertime vacations 
What they cherished, w^hen they'd 
grow. 



"Vs Kids" 



43 



The girlies chose their dollies, 
Needlework of every class. 
Books, and school, and teacher, 

To the last sweet little lass. 

1 he youngsters in a ciiorus 
Clamoured, you're next Nell. 
We've told what w^e like the best, 
its your time now to tell 

Then little Nell unfolded 

To their childish ears 

The best the world could give her 

And her eyes were bright with tears. 

1 love to have my bedtime come 
So I can o to bed, 
And feel my llittle piPow 
Cuddled 'neath my head. 

Then mamma gets a story book 
And sits v/here she can see, 
And I close my eyes and listen 
While my mamma reads to me. 



She reads the dearest stories 
And I seem to float away, 
1 guess I go to sleep because 
I wake up and its day. 



^^ ''Vs Kids'' 



THE DREAM DOLLY 

A little tot one morning 
Came racing down the stair, 
Eyes so brightly gleaming 
And ruffled streaming hair, 
Sh burst into the kitchen 
And with dancing eyes agleam 
She told a wondrous story 
Of a fairy dolly dream. 

Oh mama I had dollies 
By the roomfull and you see 
The bestest part about it 
There vv^as one that talked o me. 
She had the longest yellow^ hair, 
Her cheeks w^ere red and fat, 
Two darling dimples in her chin, 
And the cutest little hat. 



Her lips were just the sweetest 
And her tiny little neck 
Was just like any little girls. 
You'd say so too, I spec'. 
And when she smiled, O mama! 
Her little face w^as sw^eet. 
Just like a little angels. 
She's sweet enough to eat. 



'Vs Kids'' 



45 



I picked her up and hugged her 
Oh My but! she was nice 
She kissed me, called me mama 
An' I hugged her more'n twice. 
Oh Mama! are there dollies, 
Like the one I dreamed last night? 
If there is, please can I have her 
Td hug her, Oh so tight. 



THE KIWANIS 

Yep, I jined the Kiwanis, 

Cause I like the bloomin' tribe; 

Ther the only bunch I ever met 

Thet really, trooly jibe. 

Ther energy's unlimited; 

And w^hen its once urloos'd 

The've an' ever growin', heavin' pow'r 

To git behind an' boost. 

Ther' minds air on the future 

An' its true ez holy writ 

No standard tread Kiv/anian 

Was ever know^n to quit. 

Ther the sort thet's alius busy 

Never w^hine er w^ince or shirk; 

Thr w^orkin' wrhen her restin' 

An' restin' when they Tvork, 

So work an' p\a.y are about alike, 

Ther really livin' when they rest. 

Ain't that enough to cause a guy 

To think Kiwanis are the best? 



46 "Vs Kids'' 



PEP POEMS 

What's the use to crab and holler 
If the weathers dark and wet; 
What's the use to let your spirits, 
Make your life a losin' bet. 

What's the use to blame somebody 
Else for things they'd never do, 
When all the time the trouble 
Is you, my boy, it's you. 

The seasons change as usual. 
The rain and mud are part 
Of a plan, where we're included 
As our forebears, from the start. 

The sunshine comes accordin' 

As a rest, w^hen work we do. 

And the way you greet the daily grind 

Is purely up to you. 

Some time when skies are cloudy. 
And sunshine seems no more, 
Just stop and figger if you will 
Just check your blessings o'er. 

Don't crab good things of nature, 
Thought at timec they're far and few, 
There's plenty fellers in this life 
Would gladly trade with you. 



'Vs Kids'' 



47 



Don't spit and holler, cliew and cuss 

About some fancied wrong; 

There's chances things could bo lots 

wuss, 
As life goes salin' long. 

Fergit your troubes, pack a smile, 

Git busy there's a lot to do; 

Clean cut your mind, and then you'll 

find. 
Your w^orld is simply you. 

DON T QUIT 



When you fee! your holt a slippin' 
On some good thing you'vs' been grip- 
pin', 
An' you find yourself a lookin' 
For a soft like place to drop; 

And it seemsi your cautious schemein'. 
Is a case of idle dreamin' 
Like the old tiixie day variety 
Where you're pictured at the top. 

Your pretty plans are shattered, 

All their fragments round you 

scattered 
You'll swear a jinx has seized you 
And is laughin' w^hile you die. 



48 



"Vs Kids'' 



You have watched fond hopes all 

vanish 
And grown moody, grouchy, clannish. 
And think you'd be, oh, better off, 
To kiss the w^orld goodbye. 

Think again, most worthy brother, 
Thoughts like that, you'll have to 

mother. 
Buck up and hang the tighter 
To the holt you have on life. 

For every inch you're slippin', 
Seme other guy is grippin'. 
Who is willing to do battle 
In a world that's full of strife. 

Ground that ycu are i ot attainin' 
Some ether gink is gainin' 
Some ether gink, that's got the nerve 
That you have not displayed. 

And alhough the dose seems bitter, 

Never be a M^orthless quitter; 

'Cause the world w^on't back a 

scrapper. 
Unless he's unafraid. 




''Vs Kids'' 



49 



WHY BOOST 

What's the matter with some fellers 
That they set around and grcuch; 
And every cussed word they say, 
You feel like saying *'ouch!" 

They never see the sunshine, 
'Cept to say it's too durn bright; 

And the government's a ruin 

Never has ben runnin' right. 

The fruit crop's froze er sum'thin', 
The rain makes things too w^et; 
There ain't a job to w^ork at, 
'Cause the rates ain't settled yet. 

They'll argie, kncck er quarrel, 
While the days are slippin' by; 
Never stoppin once to figger 
It would help to simply try — 

Try to see the good in others; 
Boost a little as they go; 
Give the other eller credit 
If he's got a credit due. 

Talk a litte more encouragin' 

To the feller cut cf ^.uck; 

Who's outlook stil! is hazy. 

And whose thinkin' works ars stuck. 



so 



66 



Vs Kids 



99 



See thesunshine as a glory 
That is ours to use and know; 

Understand a little better 

Knockers never have a show. 

Get the friendly, good-will habit, 
Learn to talk a little cheer; 
An' 'fere you really know it 
You'll be glad you're livin' here. 

Clearer thinkin' is an asset, 
There's a value in a smile, 
Thre's a w^elcome for the lad 
That's spreadin' sunshine all the w^hile. 



KEEPING THE TRUST 

At night time when the world is still, 

Most living things asleep, 

I sit and ponder o'er the day. 

Its w^orthy things, or cheap. 

I w^onder have I been the friend 
I promised once to be. 
When all the w^orld lay a'; my feet 
And. w^e were young and free. 

1 w^onder have 1 Iiurt the soul, 
That trusted me complete. 

That soul 1 promised I'd protect 

That soul so pure and sw^eet. 



''Vs Kids'' 



51 



I wonder, have, or have I not, 

Made god the trust I bear 

To her, who said, straight from her 

heart 
She'd trust me anywhere. 

I wonder have I hurt the souls 

Those little souls of mine 

That trust in me implicitly 
A trust that is sublime. 

Oh Power, that's greater far, than 1, 
To Ycu I truly pray, 

To help me prove strong in the trust 
I carry, day by day. 



GETTING THE PAY 

Accordin' to the holy w^rit, 

Of how^ this earth began, 

The Lord fixed up the bloomin' place 

Before he made a man. 

He decked her cut with stars an'sky, 
An' trimmed her up with trees: 
An' left a lot o' open space 
Fer playgrounds fer the breeze. 

The animals w^uz scattered roun' 
In pairs, to multiply; 

An' birds he scattered with his hand 
So's they w^ould have to fiy. 



52 



"Vs Kids'' 



He made the reptiles all to crawl 
An' live in bog or marsh; 
An' made a rule of fight or die 
Thet folks think mighty harsh. 

But say: There had to be a 'way 
Pervided in the plan 
To keep things bigger, be-::ter 
Fer he benefit o' man. 

An' so the ivcrl' ^vas started 
With the built in, one condition: 
That as long as life existed 
There must be competition. 

An' after Adam; Eve wuz made, 
An' when they moved to Eden, 
They found, things set an' ready, 
Most ever' thing they's needin'. 

But there's where competition hit 
The first blow^ that v/uz struck, 
Fer the snake made talk to Mother Eve 
An' busted Adam's luck. 

From then on, men folks fit 'er out 
In ever 'game they tried. 
They've found no alibi as yet 
To save a fellers hide. 

He's got to think an' act on time 
1 o have a passin' f^rade, 
In ever' thing he's tried to do 
Or go an' hit the shade. 



'Vs Kids'' 



S3 



Ther' ain't no medinary place 
That he c'n stop to rest; 
If he does some one *11 beat 'im 
That c'n stand a harder test. 

So their ain't no use to argue, 
It's a batle all the way, 
An' the one that stic':^s the longest 
Is the one that gets the pay. 



OPTIMISM 

We dream, we think, we know, 

Yet idly pass the time with quip or 

smile; 
We watch the gloried days' departing 

glow 

And wait awhiie. 

We live, we see, v/e understand 
That dys of life are short and few; 
And like so many baubles in the hand 
Are bandied through. 

The golden days of life= and love 
And opportunity, are wantcn spent. 
In the valley of self-desire where 

round above 
Desirous souls are ne'er content. 

And these we see, and rashly class 
As fools; who'd seek to learn 
The facts; so easily to pass. 
And grandly spurn. 



S4 "Vs Kids" 



And yet, down deep within their 

hearts 
The pleasure seking throng 
Have confidence in those they spurn'd, 
To aid, w^hen things go w^rong. 

In time of need, or dire distress, 

The frilleries of life forgot, 

The human parasites confess 

The worth of those, that bandied not. 

Thus fortune smiles, and some 
Forsake the soiid, path they tread; 
Forget the darker days to come, 
And blindly, plunge, ahead. 



IDLE TALK 

This vs^orld is full o' idle talk 
And talk that is sincere: 
We listen to all kinds of talk, 
Each day w^e travel here. 

Ther's feller's kick on prices 
That they git or have to pay: 
Seme folks jist cain't be content 
When things ain't all their w^ay. 

Folks holler 'bout the landlords. 
And the high rent profiteers. 
As a certain brand o' crim'nal 
To be hung up by the ears. 



''Vs Kids'' 



ss 



The coal man gits a cussin', 
And the ice man should be shot; 
And the butcher should be bundled 
To the place that's always hot. 

The drygoods man's a robber, 
The druggist is a fright; 
To hear some fellers tell it, 
There's nothin' run jist right. 

The railroads and the fact-ries 

To hear these fellers tell 

Have won themselves a corner 
In the darkest pits o' hell. 

The farmers and his helpers, 
Ought to craw^l sDmewheres an' die; 
It's his fault, so they figger 
That the price o' food is high. 

But on close investigation 
Of the ways these fellers live; 
And their plan o' give an' takcin'. 
Finds 'em strong to take, not give. 



We ain't time, to go to detril, 
'Bout the things heard I'^-i^) life's walk 
Ther's too durn much to finish, 
To w^aste time on idle talk. 



56 



''Vs Kids'' 



A DAILY FIGHT 



There's the glory of achievement 

In an honest labor done, 

The feeling of a victor 

When a battle's fought and won. 

There's an honor in the toiling 

In itself a super wage 

That comes but to the lab'rer 
Who w^ill gladly w^ork engage. 

To him or her w^ith mind intent 
On doing only best 
The daily toil is playtime^ 
And labor only jest. 

The supreme satisfaction 
That conies from earnest toil 
Simply proves the adage, 
"To the Victor goes the spoil." 

No matter w^here the labor 

In the office, shop or field— 
Completness of endeavor 
It's fruit is sure to yield. 

Then the rest! The gladsome rest-time! 
When w^e can sit and nod. 
Lets us realize more fully, 
Honest toil is near to God. 



''Vs Kids'' 



S7 



THE OBLIGATION 



If you had a good idea 

Or a thot that's worth the while. 

Us it brother; use it while you may. 

If you have the inside knowledge 

Of the value of a smile. 

Use it brother: e'er it gets away. 

If you've got the knack about you, 

To get en w^th tFii.qs you do, 

Use it brothr; its a precious gift. 

Or the power when you get started 

Tc put the tiling on tkru, 

You'll never need to ask a friendly lift. 

Old nature gives us everyone 
Some talent rich and rare, 
Us it brother; seek your talent out 
But she leaves us moral agents 
Our talents to declare, 
Brother show the world what you're 
about. 

You've a moral obligation 

That is yours alone to pay. 

Pay it brother; prove that you are 

square. 
For your success developes 
Others talents long your way, 
Labor brother; truly it is there. 



58 "Vs Kids'* 



We're each a step in natures plan 

To better human cause, 

Step up brother: never count the cost. 

And a million other unborn steps 

Are ruined if you pause, 

And future generations will be lost. 

Search deep your inborn talents 
And find vv^here you arc best, 
Find it brother; e'er it is too late. 
That those of you that follow 
Will think of you as blest, 
And one who held ajar the future's 
gate. 



HOME AGAIN! 

The Robin and the Bluejay, 

The Bluebird, Finch and Thrush, 

Have driven north through rain and 

cold 
To meet the nesting rush. 
The crows, the hawks, the meadow- 
larks, 
The bittern and the ^vren- — 
In fact the entire feathered tribe 
Are glad they're home again. 



tt 



Vs Kids'' 




IN JUNE 



There's a world of satisfaction 
In the very sound of June; 
A kinship with the great out daors, 
With every voice in tune. 
The breezes slowly float along, 
The air is filled with nature's song, 
It seems that nothing can be wrong 
In June^ 

It's time for lovers everywhere, 
TAcir sf uis mite in June 
Hours ^hey sf tn-;d ail free from care 
Nea'.K Jun's i-ale ycilt.^/ moon; 
The fu'ure ail is gav and bright, 
Lir:lileJ with loves hean.ing light 
To them all things exist just right 
In June. 

The farmer has been through his teat, 
His crops are out in June; 

A space of time for him to rest 

A space that ends so soon. 
The cattle brouse heir tijnne ?^way. 
The little lambkir^s frisk and play; 
The horses dre?^ -^f new mown hay 
In June. 



60 



"Vs Kids" 



Thq swimmin' hole is patronized, 
For school is out in June, 
Each boyish mind is exercised, 
To some wild fancies croon. 
The circus with its funny clown. 
Wild beasts and all, has posted round 
The dates that they w^ill be in town 
In June. 



That w^ondrous something everyw^here 
Its presence tells in June, 
The earth, the sky, the very air 
Breathe a w^ondrous tune: 
It's rythm lowers, or its swells, 
A glorous music ever tells 
The time of times, for w^edding bells 
In June. 



The city feller plans and plans 
For Sunday's fun in June; 
Amusement guides he eager scans 
As restless as a loon. 
Some campfire he'll be lightin', 
Where mosquitoes he'd be fightin', 
Close to w^here the fish are bitin' 
In June. 



'Vs Kids'' 



6i 



THE PERFECT REST 



If in the grind., the daily grind 

Your very soul is worn, 

Your body racked and tortured, 

Ycur spirit sadly torn; 

It seems the limit has h^en reached, 

You've done your best ard failed, 

You've quit, you're done, to try no 

more 
You're sure your soul has quailed. 

But v/ait, just listen, and I'll tell 
Where rest is sure and sweet, 
A rest, as certain as the day, 
A rest, that's most completev 
A little ways and there you are, 
A patch of w^ocds; just trees 
Whose leafy branches answer 
Every playful passing breeze. 

A shady, grassy spot, wherin 

Are hidden watchful eyes. 

That w^atch your every movement. 

With a fearful, mild surprise; 

A place where rest is blooming 

Like a fragrant w^ondrous rose. 



Where you tr^de yrur 



lits of 



saddness 
For the sw^eet thc/ijhts of repose. 



62 



"Vs Kids" 



Where nature bids you welcome, 
Where wild folk, earth and sky, 
Teach thoughts of restful gladness 
As the time glides slowly by, 
Each small insect, in its searching 
For its food, its mate, it's quest. 
Takes your mind from resiles worry, 
In its place, there comes a rest. 
Just be quiet, lock and listen, 
Watch the birds flit, tree o tree. 
Note their shy and cautious manner 
Hiding close, yet w^here they see; 
Squirrels, sw^iftly moving shadows, 
As they go from bough to bough 
Fear a something, yet they w^onder 
What you're doing, anyhow. 
And the trees;those glorious guardians 
Guardians, yes, by far than more, 
Ever guarded by the oceans, 
Where they dash from shore to shore; 
They are there, to shield, protect you. 
They invite you, as their guest. 
To gladly teach the spirit 
And the truth of quiet rest. 

Take a lessen, srraight frcm nature 

If ycur scul is sore and wild. 

Listen closely to her teachings. 

As an earnest little child, 

Try to understand her meaning 

She alone still teaches l>est. 

She's the great, grand, glorious mother 

Go to her for perfect rest. 



''Vs Kids'' 



63 



FISHIN' FEVER 

This is bout the time o' season 
That a feller ain't no reason, 
And he pines an' !c^^s for sumpin' 

AU excitin'. 
Hes a longin' in his liver 
To be settin' by the river, 
Per the sunshine sure has told 'im 

They're a bitin'. 

Guess some sort o' spook deceiver's 

Gone and give us fishin' fever, 

Per' the w^ater scent comes to us, and 

We commence to snifflin'. 
And vs^e long and crave, uneasy, 
Per the w^ater, coo), and breezy, 
And we know the bass are bitin', cause 
The suckers are a rifflin'. 

All the work-time we're a wishn* 
We w^ere w^here their tails are sw^ishin' 
As they feed among the shallov^'^s, 
Or in sheltered places lie. 



Y 



ep ! w^e 



feel 



we re easy w^inners 



As we limber up the spinners, 
Por we knew we're gonna get 'em, 
Bye and bye. 




64 "Vs Kids'' 




BEHIND THE WHEEL 

When nature smiles her smile of smiles 
And beckons you w^ith all her wiles, 
And roads get good for miles and 

miles, 
Your job sees you a slippin*. 

The sunshine glows for hours and 

hours 
Right on the heels of springy show^ers, 
You feel possessed of woi^drous 

powers 
If a steering w^heel you're grippin'. 

There's mighty genii 'neath the hood, 
She's full o' pep an' hittin' good! 

You'd run her faster if you could 

And thought you'd be forgiven. 

When after hours are spent just so, 
Your cheeks present a healthy glow, 
You think and act en what you know- 
And life is wort! the livin' 



''Vs Kids'' 



6S 



**MUSHAROONS" 

Have you ever heard the music. 

In the patter of the rain:* 

There's a grand and rjiorious feelin' 

That you get 

When your very soul's in rythm, 

And the joyous sweet refrain 

Has a scothin' restful somethin' 

An' you aint a sad regret. 

Nice warm rain of balmy springtime, 

When all nature's turning green; 

Early garden vsrork is finished, 

All out doors fresh and clean; 

And the music of the rainfall, 

With the bass, the thunders' boom, 

Gives us nature bugs a cravin' 

Fer a mess o' musharoon. 



But, oh! boy! to think is tastin' 

If you ever had a taste; 

It's a memory that will linger 

An' can never be erased, 

There's a satisfyin' somethin' 

In the flavor that they bear; 

And when you've got a mess to eat 

It's great to k ov/ ycu're there. 



66 



"Vs Kids'' 



An' the glory in the findin' 
When you know where spawn is found. 
To be jfirst on the huntin' ground 
An' see 'em stickin' round; 
Just to pick and fill a basket, 
With the tender, luscious boys 
Make's a feller's thoughts hilaric, 
Just the kind his soul enjoys. 

But w^e first must have the rainfall 
An' the balmy days of spring, 
And must learn to know the music 
Mother nature likes to sing, 
Now's the time old nature lover, 
Can't you hear that w^elcome tune; 
Nice warm raindrops softly singing — - 
Time to hunt the musharoon. 



"RESTIN" 



In the early summer w^eather. 

Nature folks'll get together^ 

There's a Icngin' to be restin' by some 

stream. 
Where the baiiks arc grsen cT.d sunny, 
And you feel like ready money, 
With vv^orkin' time a dim and distant 

dream. 



'Vs Kids'' 



67 



There's a calm, sweet, clean attraction 

In the water's easy action. 

As it glides around the rocks an' then 

away; 
In its depths are hidden treasure 

We can seach/ fcr, at our leisure 

When the w^crld gets warm and sunny 

'long in May. 

There the w^ater's clear reflections 
Bring back childhood's recollections 
As w^e w^atch the current amble slow^ly 

on; 
And we catch ourselves a wishin' 
We were kids again a fishin' 
As we did in good. cJd days that now^ 

are gone. 

Levers' eyes the banks are scannin'. 
While their minds are ever planniii' 
To find some shady nook or shltered 

places; 
Where no other folks can bother 
And they're there tc spoon together 
The joy of living shining in their faces. 

In the stream we gaze a dreaming, 
Watch the mosses gaily strsaming. 
And w^e wonder what is hidden there 

below; 
Darker depths of water hiding, 
Hiding something, there abiding, 
Something fearsciTie, yet we want to 

know^. 



68 



'Vs Kids'' 



As the night conies on, we're leaving* 
Thoughts half gladness, half a grieving 
Baskets, poles and clothing, ready for 

the start, 
And as homeward bound w^e travel 
Over roads of stone or gravel 
There's a thankful feelin , grippin' at 

the heart. 

Glad w^e've been out there a restin' 
Where the joys of life w^e're testin', 
Glad to feel 'an know^, there's an an- 

sw^er to our dream. 
Dreams we have, that v/hen we're 

strivin', 
For the things that mean a livin' 
Theres a helpful rest in every lake or 

stream. 



THE FIRE DANCE 



In the early winters evenings 
When the frost is in the air. 
And the chill bites to the marrov/ 
As you bustle here or there; 
When the day of toil is ended 
And the evening nieal is through 
The home, and ccmforLS of a fire 
Feel mighty good to you. 



"Vs Kids'' 



69 




_^ ^.-tj— i\<,;a ^f 



Your chair drawn cl'^se beside it, 

The seething, restful ray. 

That dispells the chili about you 

As the flame tongues jump and play; 

If an open grate, you're lucky, 

For then before your eyes, 

Are the wonders of the fire fiends, 

For you to realize. 



They dance and leap around about 

And chase them^selves with frlee 

As underneath, the glow^ing coals 

Release and set them free; 

And as you watch these playful sprites 

Time vanishes, and then 

The scenes of childhood canter back 

To live themselves again. 



70 



"Vs Kids" 



In boyhood, girlhood, days once more 

We laugh and romp and play; 

Again we live those vvrondrous times 

That now are far away. 

These playful elfs bring back the days 

Forgotten, yes, yet know^n. 

And as in grand review they pass 

We claim them as our ow^n. 

There's nothing rests the human mind 
Nor drives away all care. 
As the fire dances in the open grate 
When the frost is in the air. 



ABOUT THIS TIME O YEAR 
As you travel through the country 
About this time o year. 
There's a feelin' in your system 
1 hat you're glad you're here. 
The corn shocks ail in order, 
1 he pumpkins peepin' out 
From the mass of vines about them 
Where they're scattered round about. 
You can hear the ens'lage cutters 
With their hungry, whirrin hum 
As the farmers feed the critter 
Storing feed for days to come. 
The plow^in' for the v/heat crop 
Leaves the fields all fresh and bare 
The different colored upturned earth 
A dryin' in the bAy.' 

The standin' corn is brown and dead 
About this time o' year. 



'Vs Kids'' 



71 



Farm folks getting busy 
For huskin' time is near. 
1 here's a sane sv/eet satisfaction 
As you view the country's wealth 
A ridin' over miles o' road. 
An buildin' up your health. 
The taxes may be higher, 
The price of grain be \ow. 
And places in the country road 
Where they've planted signs "Go 

Slow", 
But one thing sure and certain 
I w^ant to make that clear 
There's nohing bf^ats the country 
Abou this time o' year. 

AUTUMN FRIEND AGAIN 

ARE WITH US 



Autumn friends again are with us — 
Increased numbers day by day; 
And w^e see, or hear them singing, 
As w^e go along our w^ay. 

The cricket gaily singing 
In his high-pitched trilling hum. 
As he searches nooks all sheltered 
From the frosty night to come. 

The mud wasp w^crks intently. 
As she moulds her house of clay, 
And fills each rocm w^ith spiders 
As the barn is filled with hay. 



72 



"Vs Kids" 



The locust, fairly screaming, 
With his green, gauze, fairly wings; 
From th topmost leafy branches 
That his name was linked w^ith kings. 

And w^hen evening time comes stealing 
From where all day they've hid, 
Comes the sweetest autumn music, 
Never changing Katy-did. 

The goldenrod is blooming 
Showing all, its w^ealth of gold, 
Telling those that knov/ it, 
'Tisn't long until the cold. 

The melons on the market. 
The apples on display. 

Tell that autumn's surely vv^ith us 

Frosty night not far away. 

The wild folks all are busy 
Hiding close their w^inter's store; 
Never failing signs to tell us, 
Autumn's almost here once more. 



INDIANA PER MINE 
Some fclk'll rave o'er forei^in cars 
An' seme o'er foreign tombs 
An' others tell of pictures 
To be found in foreign rooms. 
Seme tell of wondrous beauties 
And, of foreign ^ooks divine- — 
But so far I've concluded 
Indiana still fer mine. 



''Vs Kids'' 



73 



There's no doubt lots of pritties 
On them restless furrin' shores; 
An' even wild volcanoes 
With their lava, smoke an' roars; 
But given 'em due credit 

Fer the way their w^onders shine 

I've got that ingrow^n feelin' 

Indiana does fer mine. 

Then comin' back across the pond 

Where freedom had its b'rth, 

It's proof w^e've got the best old place 

That's known around the earth; 

For furriners from ever'where, 

Think the old U. S. just fine — 

But I kncw^ that best of all the states, 

The Hccsier stats fer mine. 

Some sections of this U, S. A. 

Have climates that attract. 

Some advertise their timber 

As a real financial fact; 

Some sections corner all the cash; 

Some raise fruits so line 

Still, somehcw^, Indiana 

Is the state I v^ant fer mine. 

She's got a little, of most all 

Of good things that they tell. 

She dees meet everything they do 

And does it mighty wT-ell ; 

She raises crops they'll never beat 

Inside her own state line 

I'm still a plain old Hocsier, 
With the Hoosier state fer mine. 



74 ''Vs Kids'' 



TRASH PILES 

A bunch of children playing 

Round a pile of burning trash, 

Will do a lot of risky stunts 

That older folks deem rash. 

They play and poke the fire and laugh 

At smoke that floats away, 

Take chances of burned fingers, 

In what they think is play. 

They little dream of dangers. 

And resent advice of years, 

Until perchance a burn is heirs. 

Then help, relief, and tears. 

The world is full of trash piles. 
Where wasted time is burned. 
Their fire is fed by idleness 
Of those, as yet, unlearned. 
These trash piles ^vaiting ever 
For the unlearned, idle mind 
To feed them, keep them burning; 
They're so easy, too, to find. 
Wasted time and money. 
Wasted thoughts and deeds, 

Selfish satisfaction 

These the trash pile breeds. 
Unclean minds and morals. 
Licentious desire. 
Keep the trash piles burning, 
Fiercer, hotter, higher. 



''Vs Kids'' 



75 



Yes, the world is full of trash piles, 

And mankind feels the flame, 

Lives by thousands seared and 

wrecked, 
But still they play the game; 
Heedless of the warnings, 
Reckess in their w^ays, 
Breaking smoke from trash piles, 
Wasting glorious days. 
Laughing at the future, 
The past means naugi t; 'tis gone, 
Living lives for trash piles, 
Ever burning on, 
So always v/e've \\3A trash piles, 
And while there lives desire 
For selfish satisfaction, 
We will have the trash pile fire. 



A CHILD'S PRAYER 

Last night when v/alkins? homev/ard, 
The day's toil left behind; 

My thoughts on home and quiet 

Thoughts of a peaceful mind. 

I passed an open w^indow, 
And on the evening air 

A childish voice was wafted 

The plea of a childish prayer. 

I paused, then stepped to listen. 
Just w^hy, I couMn't guess; 
But the plea of the child had met me 
As an angel's soft caress. 



76 



"Vs Kids'' 



And. I listened, yes J listened 
To that voice, so free from care, 
As it asked of the Heavenly Father 

In that childish evening prayer . 

Asked a blessing to rest on Mamma, 

As it really, truly should; 

1 iiat stiength be given to Papa, 

That the asker, be kept Qood. 

That the Vvor!d be rriadc ever better, 
And it seemed I was rooted there, 
As I listened, strangely, gladly. 
To that childish evening prayer. 

Then the prayer abruptly ended 
And I started home again; 
In iny mind v^as a happy something, 
As I thought of the child's "Amen/' 

And home seemed grander, better, 
As ! sat in my evening chair; 
And I tbarked the Lord I'd listened 
To that childish evening prayer. 



THE RECORD KEEPER 
'Way back in our brain cells. 
Seme place v/her^ mem'ry stays, 
A record keeper surely dwells; 

A v/ritin' do-wn our days. 

Each little ti: y happening. 
That comes along our way. 

Is Mrritten, carved or painted 

In a way to make it stay. 



''Vs Kids'' 



77 



The most of them forgotten, 
Sill they're kept, without a cost 
And it's very seldom ever 
'^j hat a single one is lost. 

For instance: From the long ago 

Let's see if I'm mistaken 

A drov/sy younpst'^r, ^arly dawn 

The fum^es from frying bacon„ 

A heavy footstep round the house. 

As morning sun creeps higher. 

An' the good old sound w^e used to 

hear 
When Dad shook dcTvn the fire. 

A sweet voice hummed a little tune, 
A dipper bumped a pail; 
Then out there in the woodland 
The call of scattered quail. 

And on the quiet moruing air 
A music pure and fine. 
As the neighbor sent his Whoo-ee, 
Calling breakfast to his swine. 

The mooing of the cattle 
A the break of coming day; 
The rattle of a w^agon, 
Along a country way. 

The old pump's noisy, plaintive w^hine, 
A coffee odor in the air. 

Rattling knives, forks, an' spoons 

Sounds of life most everywhere. 



78 



"Vs Kids'' 



They live those hidden treasures, 
A wealth we gladly save; 
Hidden safely somewhere 
As we journey to'rd the grave. 

Blessed childhood memries 
That live to never die, 
And lighten a life of labor 
As the days pass solwly by. 

FRIEND WIFE 

When a feller starts to thinkin' 
That there's w^crthw^hile things in life, 
It's a cinch his thots are centered 
Rcund a loving little w^ife. 

He'll start his day iTiuch sooner, 
There's music in his soul, 
His step is more decisive 
And he seems to have* a goal. 

His shoulders shcw^ more squarely, 

1 here's a keenness in his eye. 

The w^orld he meets more fairly 

Than he did in days gone by. 

There's a quick'ning oi his pulses 
When his brain swings into line. 
And he's there at every angle, 
Gcin' strong and fine. 

He'll tackle any obstacle 
1 hat he can think to do; 
And he'll labor, sw^eat and figger 
'Till he puts the task on thru. 



"Ds Kids 



99 



79 



He seems to be a human fiend, 

For things that he'll get done; 

And seems to need no breathin' spell 

in battles, 'til they're won. 

There ain't a chance to beat him, 
Nothin' 'pears to him as strife; 
And the world must take the sidin'. 
For the guy that's right w^ith w^ife. 



JERSEY CREAM 

Some folks are easy satisfied 

An' take life as it comes; 

Ther's others chase some wild, fan- 
tastic dream. 

Some folks don't crave fer things 
untried. 

An' some are seein' slums; 

I'm dippy 'bout my coffee, with a lot 
o' jersey cream. 

Ther's cravin's run to furrin lan's 

An' others run to clo's; 

Ther's others run to underw^ear, that 

ain't a sign o' seam. 
But mine is jest a happy man's, 
Th entire family k-^cw^s, 
An' it takes me straight to coffee, 

w^ith a lot o' jersey cream. 



60 "Vs Kids'* 



Ther's fclks'll go to bed at night 

A-cravin' hours o' rest; 

Er cravin' fer a flat that's het with 

steam. 
The future all to me is bright, 
An' things a-lookin' best, 
When I've got a cup o' coffee with 

a lot of jersey cream. 

It seems folks crave the strongest 
Fer the things they've never had; 
An' the eye betrays the owner, with 

its hungry, anxious gleam. 
But 1 feel I'm w^ronged the wrongest 
An' th morning sure looks bad. 
If I'm kept aw^ay from coffee w^ith a 

lot o' Jersey cream. 

THE FAMILY MAN 

Are you a family feller 

With some youngsters stickin' round? 

11- at are ready with their kisses 

Every time you're found. 

That are proud to call you papa, 

And to tell of things you do. 

And w^ill fight to prove its proper 

That the v/orld belongs to you. 

Do you see their little failings? 

As reflecting just your ow^n. 

Little locks and actions 

That will be you w^hen they're grow^n; 

And do you see the w^orship 



''Vs Kids'' 



81 



That they give to you each day, 
As they sit about the table 
In that happy famiiy way. 
Can you share their little troubles, 
Help them sing their sweet refrains, 
Seethe their little bumps and bruises. 
Ease their tummy aclies and pains, 
Send them cfiF to sleep at evening. 
Just content to know you're there, 
Feeling safq to know you taught them 
How^ to say their evening prayer. 
Are they glad to see you com.ing 
When the day of toil is done, 
And open armed and laughing, 
Ccne to meet you on the run. 
If ycu have all these I've mentioned. 
And those kiddies understand 
Life has no more to p:ive you, 
You're a king. A family man. 



MOTHER LOVE 

A man may fight the battles 
That it takes for daily bread. 
He may win the verbal struggles 
That w^ill push his state ahead. 



His mind m^y wc:k such .veneers 
That the v/orld., his feet w^ould kiss 
He may be the world's great hero, 
Yet the best of life he'll miss. 



82 



'Vs Kids'* 



For, he'll never know what baby means 

to mother 
When she holds her offspring close up 

to her heart; 
He'll never kncw^ the plans, her plans, 

no other; 
When baby, grown, w^ill take the 

leading part. 

He'll never knc^v, her flights of wild 

ambition. 

Nor the depths, v/hen sickness comes, 
of her despair; 

He'll never know^ he's privileged on 
condition 

That he stand w..!: !*cr twixt baby- 
pain and care. 

He'll never know her heartfelt satis- 
faction. 

Her little fears and thrills, as day by 
day. 

She notes, as baby growls, each mood 
and action. 

Nor know the strength of prayers, 
that mothers pray. 

Yes, man may rise to heights of 

pov/er and w^isdom 

That are second only to the ones 

above; 
But the power that planned and 

builded all creation, 
To woman gave its best A Mother's 

Love. 



i6 



Vs Kids'' 



83 



THE WHINER 




I know that luck's agranst me, 

No chance for me to win. 

I lose at every cussed game, 

That I get started in. 

I work as hard at things I do 

As any mortal could. 

But every time it's just the same 

Ai d don't work Hke it should 

I grab up things that shouldn't slip 

And swear I'll never quit. 

But some guy with a firmer grip 

Just shakes me loose from it. 

I get up early in the day. 

First at some good things door 

And find that luck is not my way 

Seme gi:-k was there t'iie night before, 

Seme combination of events, 

Just heads me cfT won't let me win. 

Bad luck just follows all the time, 

To queer me e'er I've started in. 



S4 "Vs Kids'' 



LIFE'S RIVER 

When we leave the sheltering shore 

of life 
Our home of youth and song. 
And swing out in the current 
To be swiftly borne along. 

Swing out in lifes broad river 

It is best to take an oar 

That you guide your craft more truly 

Till you reach the other shore. 

Let your craft be some idea 
That can anchor at a goal 
Let endeavor be your watchword 
Rcoted deep within your soul. 

Let the demon of Ambition 
Be the power to urge you on, 
That the oar of thot keep moving 
When it seems that hope is gone. 

Light the darker w^ays with know^ledge 
That procastinations rocks 
And the snags of doubt about you 
Are rceived with lesser shocks 

When eddy spots of ease appear 

Where idle pleasures wait 

Let an earnest understanding 

Of life's assets, guide you straight. 



''Vs Kids'' 



8S 



And whsn you reach life's rapids 



Wl-ere succcsssl g^iy I'oar, 
■ut a v/n 



Shcut a v/nrnir:f^ tD chcL^ near you 



i>t.ccp 



L.:c snore. 



then when ycu've reached life's ocean 
And it beckons ever on. 

Ycu/11 have kft a i . r i^uj :— eni'ry 
When the shore line's past and gone. 



Theres a price to pay, for hearts desire 

A price that must be paid. 

When we make of emotions a raging 

fire 
And have danced to the music made. 

Theres a selfish thot in hearts desire 
When we'd forget all cares, 
And hearken to that of which we tire 
And the payment comes unawares. 

The future is blank where hearts 

desire 
Is sought, and fondly caressed. 
And its pleasures are priced higher 

and higher, 
As we're led to its rotten crest. 

The road w^e travel to hearts desire 

Is strew^n w^ith human wrecks. 

With hearts wrung dry, and souls yet 

dryer 
Of the things a world respects. 



86 "Vs Kids'' 



The price we pay, for nearts desire 

Is a hudless nations debt. 

And its childless homes, can but 

inspire 
Grave fears and sad regret. 

Like the rainbo^vs end, is hearts desire 
And at last with failing breath 
We realize the entangling mire 
Of hearts desire. Is Death. 



LIFES SECRETS 

In the iner chambers of the soul 
Of each of the hirniiin kind 
Walled in, and guarded jealously 
Lie secrets, the world shant find. 

Secrets that torture the ow^ners mind 

Sf^crets "A^pp'^e freed/~-n'>. me'^n a<^ath 
Secrets w^e'd keep from the w^orld 

about 
To cur last weak, fleeting breath. 

Secrets that rage to be released 
That tarnished honor be cleared. 
Secrets doomed to die w^ithin 
That innocence not be seared. 

Secrets that guide on the narrow^ w^ay 
To >3i!ccess, in ihc worldly plan. 

Sec Yets tF?:t rnek'^ I's r^nrnaritc ns 
In this seihsh world of man. 



"Vs Kids 



99 



Secrets that strengthen the owners 

aoul 
When he knows them safely bound. 
Secrets that teach life's sterling worth 
And w^e tiavel en finTier ground,. 

Secrets w^e'd gladly forget, to die 

Of folly, desire, or pride 

But ever their rumbling, deep within 

Warn that they haven't died. 
God! how they tear at the inner soul 
Their threats ard desire to be free, 
Are hells damnation, concealed from 

all. 
To the end of you and me. 



DOUBT 
Theres a river that flov^^s 
Thru the life of man, 
As the rivers o earth 
To the sea. 
Subjecting his days 
To its moody plan. 
No mind from its current, free. 
Its rapids so sw^ift 
And cataracts wild; 
Are the power 
That control his all. 
Where he's tossed, as a bubble 
And ever be guiled. 
To a haven w^here naught 
Can befall. 
But always; e'er reaching 



"Vs Kids" 



TKat spot cf cur dreanis. 
Rcu.gh waters are gathered abcut, 
Where cur brain terrcred fancies 
Reality seems. 
For we flcat on the River of Doubt. 



MOTHERS PALS 

To her: who up to maiden hood 

Has guarded well a lass. 

A^nd taught her well a life of good 

Ar^d let no evil pass. 

Has guided true those girlhood steps, 

Since first she tried to walk. 

Explained from primer on the prep, 

^'^r"^f:'f]y hov^ to talk. 

Knelt by her bedside, as she slept. 

And prayed for guidance true. 

That she believe, wrhere doubt had 

crept, 
^'he still could come to you. 
Tci!id on and hoped a goddess strong 
F^r her, you'd alvsrays be, 
That when she met an idle wrong. 
To vou she'd gladly flee. 
To her: the mother. You are now 
Where the road of life divides. 
No fond farew^ell, nor curteous bovsr 

M^ " Kjr-K <~ KgCT" ■''^'•^ <^ «'idf*s, 

Tfc, 'n<?^ afc*-k, w^hose wrid'ninsr wrays 
Mgy vary the future will tell 



''Vs Kids'' 



89 



And Mother it's you, that in future 

days 

Can keep the roads aralell 

If your efforts to pilot that daughter 

thru ^' 

A life that's beset with sin. 
Are to be rewarded, in what she'll do 
Make a pal of her, take her in. 
Take her in to the secret room of 

your soul. 
Where life's teachings are filed away. 
Where the demons of doubt and 

temptation 
Are chained, lest they go astray. 
U^^'ld the pirch:Ti.e-t, y^v. k'^.ow as 

life 
And read from it page by page. 
That snf^ ■r^^^r be v/a"'"^"'"^^ r^f t^e com- 

ine: strife, 
Whi7e she vet, is of tender age. 
Disclose the pitfaUs, whose deadly 

breath, 
Is the branding iron, of shame. 
Uncover the vices that lead to death. 
And steal their victims name. 
Lay bare the licentious desire, that 

waits, 
Along the road ahead. 
To ruin the virgin w^ho hesitates, 
And leave her despised, and dead. 
Teach her w^ell, indescretions are 

stepping stones, 



90 "Vs Kids" 



a s'lpp'ry s':a.ir. 
That bright lights^ and music, but 

rattling bones, 
To be found on the road to despair. 

Drill her well: on the sinous subtle, 

things 
That are found in the evil plan. 
And that lead to the brinks, where 

hope takes w^ings, 
And shes gone from the vale of man. 
Don't: attempt to erJairge: on the bad 

in men. 
For v/h.oTi he coTr^.es- tc^ l^er call, 
And she finds him misrepresented, 

the- , 
It's a chance she will stumble; and fall. 
Don't simply say Sh — : whn she starts 

to inquire. 
Of the vital things: time vyrill unfold. 
If you do: you but kindle the hellish 

fire, 
You could quench; "if you plainly told. 
Don't tell her to wait; that she won't 

understand, 
That she's young; to forget it, and 

grow, 
Or she iikely will learn, from sources 
not planned, 

The things her soul craves to Know. 
Don't vary from Truth; When you 

start to explain, 



''Vs Kids'' 



91 



Life's stories, each time she may ask. 
Stamp truth as you know it: deep in 

her brain, 
And truly thus shorten your task. 
Paint well every picture; you paint on 

her mind 
For the kind mother paints; are the 

best 
They're the only true asset, a 

daughter can find 
And mother's pals, stand every test. 



\ 




V 



1^ 




